Sharkbite will not fit on my 1/2" copper pipe

[Danh4]

I'm trying to install a new single handle kitchen faucet. The old faucet had two taps and copper pipe connecting directly to each. My plan was to cut the supposedly 1/2" pipe and install Sharkbite stops with the 3/8" fittings for the new faucet's feed lines. I got the pipe cut, cleaned up and I put a good chamfer on the end but I can not get the Sharkbite to go on. If I really force it I can get it on just about to the teeth but that's it, I am well short of the .95" required inseretion.

Is all 1/2" copper pipe supposed to measure .625" OD? My pipe measures .655" OD and I think that has to be the problem. I could not find what tolerance the Sharkbite fittings allow for and I'm stuck with a non-working kitchen faucet which is not going over well! Anybody else run into this problem?

 

[breplum]

Never run in to that issue.

 

[Twowaxhack]

I'm trying to install a new single handle kitchen faucet. The old faucet had two taps and copper pipe connecting directly to each. My plan was to cut the supposedly 1/2" pipe and install Sharkbite stops with the 3/8" fittings for the new faucet's feed lines. I got the pipe cut, cleaned up and I put a good chamfer on the end but I can not get the Sharkbite to go on. If I really force it I can get it on just about to the teeth but that's it, I am well short of the .95" required inseretion.

Is all 1/2" copper pipe supposed to measure .625" OD? My pipe measures .655" OD and I think that has to be the problem. I could not find what tolerance the Sharkbite fittings allow for and I'm stuck with a non-working kitchen faucet which is not going over well! Anybody else run into this problem?

I’ve found copper with larger O.D. Because it had frozen at some point on the past and expanded.

 

[Danh4]

I’ve found copper with larger O.D. Because it had frozen at some point on the past and expanded.

I suppose that is possible, the pipe has to be close to 60-70 years old so who knows. Would pipe that had frozen expand only at the point that it froze? This pipe is the hot water feed and the cold side is the same size and all of it under the sink is consistent wherever I measure it.

 

[dmmsr]

I agree with twowaxhack. I had found this happen myself. The only way I figured fixing it with the limited pipe exposed was to swedge the pipe then adapt to it.

 

[Danh4]

I agree with twowaxhack. I had found this happen myself. The only way I figured fixing it with the limited pipe exposed was to swedge the pipe then adapt to it.

Swedge means compress it back to size? Is there an easy way to do this or will I need a special (expensive) tool?

 

[dmmsr]

This will stretch the inside of the pipe to fitting size. Then solder a piece of pipe inside of it and go from there.

 

[Danh4]

This will stretch the inside of the pipe to fitting size. Then solder a piece of pipe inside of it and go from there.

Gotcha, thanks!

 

[breplum]

To my knowledge, you would only have success swedging on soft copper.
We stub out with hard copper.

 

[Danh4]

Well, I'm not real proud of this, but I managed to get the Shark bite on by sanding, filing and grinding on the end of the pipe until I thought I could get it to go on. I got it on so far that I could not get if off again (no room to get any leverage on it) so I pounded it on to within a 1/4" of the required depth. I know that's not good but I turned the water on and had no leaks so I'm going with it. Not a great day for DIY! Thanks all for the help!

-Dan

 

[dmmsr]

To my knowledge, you would only have success swedging on soft copper.
We stub out with hard copper.

We use to swedge L copper all the time.

 

[hukre]

You would assume that the OD of ½" copper is exactly the same on every pipe you buy, but this is not the case. 20 years ago you would not run into that problem. The manufacturer's inspections are not that stringent anymore. It also depends on where you buy it (plumbing supply company or big box store). Now I carry a ½" tee with me whenever I buy copper and test if it fits over the pipe. It is surprising, but you will you find copper with oversized OD in the same batch..

 

[Twowaxhack]

You would assume that the OD of ½" copper is exactly the same on every pipe you buy, but this is not the case. 20 years ago you would not run into that problem. The manufacturer's inspections are not that stringent anymore. It also depends on where you buy it (plumbing supply company or big box store). Now I carry a ½" tee with me whenever I buy copper and test if it fits over the pipe. It is surprising, but you will you find copper with oversized OD in the same batch..

Actually it’s the opposite. Modern manufacturing holds to a tighter O.D than pipe 40-80 years ago.

If the pipe freezes the OD can stretch and the pipe will have a larger OD. Also in the past there was a lot of import copper through the years and it was pure junk !

 

[Gary S]

Well, I'm not real proud of this, but I managed to get the Shark bite on by sanding, filing and grinding on the end of the pipe until I thought I could get it to go on. I got it on so far that I could not get if off again (no room to get any leverage on it) so I pounded it on to within a 1/4" of the required depth. I know that's not good but I turned the water on and had no leaks so I'm going with it. Not a great day for DIY! Thanks all for the help!

-Dan

It’s not just you Dan. Another person Ed I believe mentions that he bought 10 1/2 inch shark bites that would only go in 3/4 and was 1/4 inch short of 15/16 inch spec. I had this same problem and until I saw his post thought I was nuts. It’s holding but I’m not feeling too comfy when the line I marked with depth tool is 1/4 in ch longer.

 

[Danh4]

It’s not just you Dan. Another person Ed I believe mentions that he bought 10 1/2 inch shark bites that would only go in 3/4 and was 1/4 inch short of 15/16 inch spec. I had this same problem and until I saw his post thought I was nuts. It’s holding but I’m not feeling too comfy when the line I marked with depth tool is 1/4 in ch longer.

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one! It is still a bit of a mystery why my pipe is .655". A plumber said that it probably froze at one time and expanded, but the cold water line right next to it is fine size-wise. You'd think that one would freeze before the hot one? Anyway, my Shark-Bite is still holding, never a drip from it. I do still have a plastic tray under it with a water alarm just in case!

 

[Twowaxhack]

Sharkbites are like that cute girl you met at 2am leaving the bar and when you wake up you look over and try to chew your arm off so you can leave without waking her up.

Seemed like a great idea at the time.

 

[Twowaxhack]

To my knowledge, you would only have success swedging on soft copper.
We stub out with hard copper.

Heat it cherry red and hard copper becomes soft copper.

 

[Pipe Dreams]

I’ve found copper with larger O.D. Because it had frozen at some point on the past and expanded.

That is exactly what I was going to say. I have seen it too.

@Danh4 ........

is the kitchen sink on the outside wall?

If so, no sharkbite will work